Elastic filling for wood pavements.



No. 635,176. Patented Oct. I7, |899. T. K. MUIR.

ELASTIC FILLING FOR WO0D PAVEMENTS.

(Application led Aug. 6, 1897.)

(No Model.)

ly l 'hi A mfom,

TN: cams Prrzns co.. womumo.. wnswmumn. D. c,

THOMAS K. MUIR, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

ELASTIC FILLING FOR WOOD PAVEMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,176, dated October17, 1899.

Application filed August 5, 1897. Serial No. 647,242. (No specimens.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS K. MU IR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon,have invented a new and Improved Elastic Joint for Wood Pavements, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The object is to present a non-absorbent elastic filling for thetransverse interstices eX- istin g between theopposin g sides of theblocks when n situ., the filling to be of such character that whilefirmly uniting the blocks it will permit eXpansion'and contraction dueto atmospheric conditions-as, for example, excessive heat, cold, ormoisture-without material detriment to the structure so formed;furthermore, to present a filling which shall afford a uniform bearingfor the blocks, from top to bottom thereof when laid, and which shall besympathetic in its thermal relations to the asphaltum or like waterproofsurface. coating applied in liquid state to the tops of the blocks, notchilling such coating, but taking up heat and allowing the coating topenetrate to a sufiicient depth, and, finally, to present a filling theuniformity of which will be conducive in effecting great evenness in thelaying of the pavement.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, andin which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figurel is a view in plan displayinga series of wooden blocks arranged as inpaving, the opposing sides of the blocks being united by my improvedfilling or joint. Fig. 2 is a View in elevation displaying a strip ofthe iilling or joint. Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section through onecf the strips.

The filling comprises as a base a strip A, of any suitable Warped andwoofed flexible absorbent material-such as canvas, burlap, &c.--of thewidth of the blocks and of'convenient length. Both sides of this stripare coatedor faced with a competition b, consisting of granularparticles of some elastic substance-as cork, sawdust,and the like-whichto render it properly adhesive to become firmly attached to the stripand at the same time impervious to moisture is immersed in and coatedwith asphaltum, tar, petroleum, varnish, or other suitable waterproofingmaterial. The granular material thus treated is applied in an evenmanner to the sides of the strip.

Instead 0f treating the granular material in the manner described I may,if preferred, first saturate the strip in any one of the waterproofingsubstances named and then apply the granular material to the strip. Thislatter procedure is much simpler than the iirst named and will answerinpmost cases. In either case the roughened cellular surface presentedby the warp and Woof of the fabric will operate firmly to hold thegranular substance in position against displacement in use.

In employing my filling in the construction of wood pavements thefoundation is laid as usual. The blocks are then laid transverselythereon with their ends in close contact, and between their sides thefilling is inserted, and a surface coating of asphaltum or the like isthen applied as usual and will penetrate a sufiicient distance to make awaterproof coverin g for the filling. The iilling being of uniformthickness, the blocks can be laid very evenly, and as the pressure orbearing of the blocks against each other is evenly distributed. theweight which the pavement must sustain incident to the travel ofvehicles and the like thereover will be easily borne and the liabilityof disrupting the pavement by such travel is reduced t0 a minimum.

-Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

As a new article of manufacture, a filling for the interstices existingbetween the opposing sides of wooden paving-blocks, consisting of astrip 0f warped and woofed fabric having, on each side, granularparticles of an elastic material held in place by a suitable waterproofsubstance, the cellular structure of the strip operating to presentretaining-points for additionally holding the granular material inplace, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature, in the presenceof two witnesses, this 11th day 0f June, l1897.

THOMAS K. MUIR.

Witnesses:

M. A. OXER, T. J. GEIsLER.

IOO

